To facilitate the transition from academic study to a professional career, OPPCE joins in partnership with the business community to provide the final learning experience, the internship, for the student. The internship is an opportunity to transfer and apply the knowledge and theory gained in the classroom to actual business setting. The best way to learn to function as a professional is to work as a professional in the field. In this setting, the student can practice skills, apply knowledge, and test theories and concepts under the guidance and supervision of experienced professionals. The internship provides students with an opportunity to grow professionally, identify personal strengths and weaknesses, apply learned theory to practical situations, and gain an appreciation of the role, duties, and responsibilities of the work that the student has chosen as a career. The internship is designed cooperatively by OPPCE, the university faculty, field professionals, and the student to provide an experience that is mutually beneficial to both the Intern and the organization. Internship supervisors within the organization become the final link in the development of the Intern as a new professional. This partnership creates the ultimate educational experience.

The purpose of the internship program is to provide the student (future professional) with a wide-ranging practical experience in a setting where learning is the primary objective of the experience. Therefore the basic purposes of the internship are:

FOR THE STUDENT: to complete his/her professional preparation program in supervised field experience.

FOR THE UNIVERSITY: to support and guide the student through the experience while the student applies theoretical knowledge to practice.

FOR THE ORGANIZATION: to provide a comfortable work environment for the experience as well as professional mentorship.

At the end of the internship experience, it is expected that student achieve following outcomes:

1. Systematize and consolidate knowledge obtained during the training period.

2. Identify and analyze basic supervision concepts.

3. Apply professional management skills and meet performance standards of the profession.

4. Apply basic concepts of management and administration.

5. Acquire knowledge of professional competencies needed to succeed in the field.